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I have a 1953 3500 which I restored several years ago with the help of this site and a friend who was a professional body man. We took the truck apart and did a good job of it. I used a rebuilt 235 motor, and it worked fine. I did a stupid thing and let the motor freeze in the cold weather. I thought it had enough anti freeze and it did not. I have another motor on hand that is complete, except for the crankshaft. I assume the crank from the ruined motor would work. Someone please let me know if they think there could be a problem. Both motors are later models with bearings, not babets. I have been thinking that I might change the motor to a later model, probably a 350. I'm not capable of doing this alone, but I know someone who I think could help. What am I getting into here? Am I creating a nightmare for myself? Thank you.

You should be able to swap cranks however, for smooth running and long life, the rotating assembly (everything that is attached to the crank and spins) should all be balanced so, you would want to have it balanced and not just swap the parts. If they are the same bore, you can probably swap the whole rotating assy from the old to the new block (checking clearances etc)

Lots of 350 swaps done.

If you're not up to doing a V8 swap yourself and aren't really excited by that idea anyhow...keep it simple, more or less original, and stick with the Inline 6.
Now would be the time to look for that 261 you may have also thought of.

I may be way out of my (mind) league here but...Is the engine really ruined? I mean did you try to start it or did the freeze plugs just push out? Any damage to the block/head? If it's just the freeze plugs can't you just install new ones and start the truck up?!

First, enlist the help of someone who knows the difference in a motor and an engine. Then set up both engines on repair stands side by side and tear both of them down to a bare block. Measure everything to be sure the undamaged block is rebuildable, clean it all up, and reassemble it with the best parts of both engines. Get ready to spend at least a couple of thousand dollars for a good buildup. Then buy a couple of cases of antifreeze, and never, ever let the coolant get below at least 50% concentration. You have just learned a very expensive lesson in preventive maintenance!
Jerry

supposedly, " . . . all motors are engines but not all engines are motors . . . "

My Suburban has a 261 engine that allows me to have happy motoring.

What is a 1953 3500? Is that a typo?

During the tear down don't forget to number the valve lifters so you put them back in the exact hole they came out of...mixing them up may wipe the cam out.

Mike B

The Truck is a large flat bed truck. I think it was the largest truck they built that year unless you got into the really big trucks. I do know the difference between an engine and a motor, but in common usage they are often interchanged. For example, BMW stands for Bavarian motor works, not Bavarian engine works. So much for that. What difference does it make. You knew what I meant. I don't know if it is ruined or not. I suspect it is. I did start it sometime ago. I got a puddle of oil on the garage floor, so something serious must be wrong. I am out of my depth here. When we rebuilt the truck the first time I took the motor to a machine shop and had the (engine) bored out and used new pistons. we also had the head gone over, and I would do the same thing again. With someone to give me a hand I am capable of taking the motor out and reinstalling it. I am able to put engine back together when the machine shop is finished.
The reason I was thinking of using a V8 was to get a little more speed out of it. This truck originally had only a 100 HP engine, and it was geared for power, not speed, so driving it in modern traffic is a chore. I always feel like I'm leading a parade with all the traffic I am holding up.
I am not familiar with the 261 engine. Was that a later version, or maybe from a GMC? If I were able to find one, how hard would it be to install. I would guess it probably would not bolt in without some modification.
As I said, I am out of my depth here so any help or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Allen, sounds like you have a 1 - 1.5 ton, and changing the engine won't gain you any road speed whatever, it's the rear end gearing that's limiting it, no matter how much horsepower you put on that low speed gearing it'll still be low speed

for starts on the 'freezing' problem, you should get someone knowledgeable to evaluate just what the problem is - like where did the puddle of oil come from and why? might not be a real problem at all

Bill

Putting a V8 in your truck will allow you to run higher rpm which will make the truck run faster, but it should be noted the truck was never designed to go fast, so the steering and brakes become a BIG safety issue.

Get it running and drive it around, you may end up liking the speed! Lets you smell the rose's...

Mike B

Got any pictures of it you can post. As Mike mentioned a 3500 series, is something I've never seen info., or literature on. I'm curious as to what you really have ? 1953 U.S. built trucks, in cab, and chassis form had series designations as follows, 3100, 3600, 3800, 4100, 4400, 5100, 5400, 5700, 6100, 6400, & 6500.

Here is some 1953 identification/serial-number information.

Do you have the door-opening Vehicle Serial Number tag (or, a registration/title).

Chevrolet truck 261 engines were available from 1954 to 1963. As stated above, it was mostly a big truck engine.

To add to Tim's info on the 261 they're very much like the 235 and fit exactly the same, no trouble at all to swap one for the other.

I may have the designation wrong. I thought it was a 3500. Maybe that is the wrong number. At any rate it is a large flat bed truck. When I was much younger and the truck was newer all the farmers had one like it, and we all called them 2 ton trucks. I don't know why 2 ton but that is what we called them. This truck has had an interesting history. I have been told it was originally a beer delivery truck, was later used on a farm, and finally ended up out in the open for many years. When I got it, it was in terrible condition. The motor was locked, the body was rusted, and the interior was really bad. At some point someone must have had something fastened to the front fenders, because when we took them down to bare metal to begin restoration, both had metal plates filling what must have mounting holes for something in the same spot on the top.
As I said earlier, I had a very good friend who was a professional body man, and with his help and more money than I like to think about we did a really good restoration on the body. I had a engine on hand and that is the one we rebuilt. I still have the main parts from the original engine, with the exception of the crank.
My friend has passed away, and I don't have a lot of interest in the truck any longer. It was fun restoring it, but that is over. I now have a choice of either selling for whatever I can get for it, or bringing it back to life. If I get the motor running again I would have an occasional use for it in moving heavy objects.
The engine now in the truck did require a different bell housing. I can't remember the difference,but the
original one would not work.
The reason for wanting a larger engine is not so much for speed, but a little more power. On level ground it will move along at around 45 miles, but as soon as I come to a hill, it begins to pull down. 100 horse power is not much in a large truck.
I have no idea where I would find one of the larger engines. Does anyone have any suggestions?
This is much longer than I meant it to be when I started. If you have read this far I thank you for your time.

The bellhousing change you remember was likely to keep the correct mounts for 48-53. Starting 54 they changed and your newer engine probably had the newer housing.

My GMC 1 ton with just an old worn 228 would go about 45-50, and once in 4th gear it would pull even reasonable hills at speed, very little shifting once cruising. Same with my 52 with the 235 years ago. Both had 5.14 axle gears.
I'm a little surprised your truck with even lower axle gears than mine won't pull hills very well. Understandably it won't be fast, but should hold its speed once you get there. This all unloaded, with a load they'll slow down for sure.
Was it running well in your opinion?

Grigg

Thanks for the replies. The truck is a 6500. I'm sorry about the confusion. As for the new motor. I'm not especially interested in getting a lot of speed out of it, but It would be nice if it had a little more torque.
I'm old enough to remember when these trucks were new, and they always were very slow anytime you came to a hill. If you were following a truck of any size and were on a hill, you could be sure you were going to be back of it for a while. That was ok back then because everything was fairly slow, and people expected trucks to be slow. Today when everything is fast if you want it to be, that is not so ok. The truck has not been moved for over a year. It is stored inside out of the weather so the body is not going down hill. I think when the weather gets a little warmer, with the help of a friend, I will get into it and see what I have to deal with. I know it was stupid to let it freeze, but I can't change what happened.,

I let a 235 freeze up one year in Virginia Beach. It had a 6" crack in the block and I sealed it with the powdered block sealant. The truck ran fine for several years after that. They can take more than you think.
George

Napco man. Thanks for the encouragement. When the weather gets a little warmer and I don't need heat in the garage, I think I will take a better look at it, and then decide what to do about it. I will let you know what turns up.

I have had several people comment about the speed of the trucks. I am not a good enough mechanic to explain it, but I do remember these truck from new. The smaller ones, half tons, etc. would run at a normal speed of an automobile, but the big ones would not. I remember my grand father had a 1953 Studebaker. It was new at the time, and that truck also was slow. Even with no load, on a long grade, it would be necessary to shift down. My truck has a two speed rear axel, and by shifting to the lower speed most of the time it is not necessary to down shift. These trucks were heavy, even with no load, and with only a 100 horse power motor, you are not going to get much speed out of it.